Williams, a double gold medalist at 2018 World U-20 Championships and national high school 100-meter record holder, forgoes remaining prep and collegiate eligibility in preparation for an opportunity to qualify for Jamaican Olympic team

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

Jamaican sprint phenom Briana Williams announced Friday she will turn professional and sign with Nike. She is being represented by HSI International.

The 17-year old, who resides in South Florida and is a senior at Northeast High, became the youngest athlete at the IAAF U-20 Championships to earn double gold in both the 100-meter dash and 200 meters in 2018.

“Going pro was a big decision,” said Williams, who is scheduled to graduate in May.

“For five years I’ve trained like a pro. I have the mentality like a pro. That’s why my races against pros have gone well. My team put everything in place to make it benefit me.”

Her coach, Olympic medalist and NBC analyst Ato Boldon noted that her decision to turn professional wasn’t done hastily. Williams has been attracting a high level of interest over the past year, especially since her World U-20 victories in Finland.

“Her 100-meter dash consistency last year, even against senior athletes, and the Olympics being this year, led to many companies feeling like they would make offers to her.”

Williams has run under 11.2 seconds in the 100 meters seven times in her career, including six in 2019, and under 23 seconds in the 200 three times.

While other high school track and field seniors were entertaining college head coaches and taking official visits, Williams was on the campus of Puma’s North American headquarters in Boston and the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Both companies showed her the insights of themselves and what they had to offer.

“I learned a lot about their history and their plans for my future,” Williams said. “I also got to shop at their company stores, which were pretty awesome. In the end, Nike was just a better fit for me. I’ve always been a fan of their gear. They make nice clothes and shoes.”

Boldon added that those visits also let the brands see what they’d be getting in Williams in terms of presence and personality. Building a formidable athlete on the track is just one part of Boldon’s strategy with his athletes. Another key component is building up their marketability outside of competition.

“The athletes I coach have to commit to being developed in all areas and how they present themselves to the world in all media is a big part of that development,” he said. “The industry took notice of Briana's ability to communicate. There are several companies in Jamaica, for example, which have been patiently waiting for Briana to officially announce that she is now a professional athlete.”

It was a year of highs and lows in 2019 for Wiliams, dotted with impressive wins and times, but also some controversy.

She failed a drug test and tested positive for a banned diuretic at the Jamaican Trials in June, when she ran 10.94 seconds, which surpassed the U.S. high school record along with the Jamaican U-20 and World U-18 all-time marks. She received a public reprimand and did not serve a ban, according to a decision made by the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (IADP).

“I grew from the experience and had to realize just how one thing can have a huge impact,” she said.

“Briana was forced to grow up, and I had to learn to block out a lot of noise,” Boldon added. “It ended as well as it could have, and now 2019 is in the rearview mirror, and we are both stronger for it.”

Williams opened her 2020 indoor schedule in the 60-meter dash at the Clemson Orange and Purple Elite Invitational with a personal-best 7.25 seconds, equal to the No. 5 performer in prep history. Her next race will be in Jamaica, where she will contest the 60 meters outdoors.

It’s all a tuneup for the ultimate goal, a chance to make the Jamaican Olympic team, and earn her first Olympic medal.

“My goals are to run faster than I did last year, run a lot of sub-11 second 100-meter races, to make the Jamaican Olympic team, and hopefully an individual medal at the Olympics,” she said. “It would mean a lot. It’s been a lifelong dream to make the team.”

As for what makes her such a talented track athlete? She credits her god-given talent combined with an unparalleled work ethic.

“My coach can vouch for how hard I work,” she noted. “That’s the part people don’t see. I want to improve to be the best me, and to show others that are young like me that you can reach your dreams at any age, as long as you put your mind to it and you are willing to work hard towards it.”

Boldon believes Williams' potential is limitless.

“She's poised and confident at her age in a way that I haven't ever seen,” he said. “She has the support of a nation (Jamaica) in a way that few 17-year olds ever have, and now her challenge is to transition to the big stage where she's already had some success in the last two seasons. She gets to write her own story, as she wants to.”